Breathe easy

Physical therapists can help your lungs, too

by Aaron Holly

After taking a normal breath in and out, are you able to hold your breath for 20 seconds? This is one common test that can be used to help determine if you might have breathing dysfunction. Was this hard for you? How do you think you would do after you have been sick? How do you think those recovering from illnesses related to COVID-19 might do? Did you know that physical therapists can help you breathe better?

Breathing is something that should be very natural and easy for us. When we are healthy, we take for granted that we can easily take air in and out of our lungs.

Dysfunctional breathing can lead to an abnormal increase in the use of neck and chest muscles to assist in breathing. This can contribute to tension in your neck and back, poor posture, and even a decrease in the stability of our spine.

When our breathing becomes inefficient or labored it can contribute to such things as fatigue, pain, digestive issues, anxiety, and poor quality of life.

Physical therapists are uniquely qualified to help people improve posture, mobility, strength, and optimal movement.

Theraists can work with you to optimize movement patterns such as proper breathing to ensure that you can recover and get back to living your best life. You can begin physical therapy treatments with or without a doctor’s referral but will need medical clearance to start your physical therapy if you are recovering from COVID-19. Telehealth options remain available for those who are not yet safe to return to in-clinic visits. Physical therapy treatments may include exercises, manual therapy techniques, and pain-relieving modalities specific to your condition.

The physical therapy environment that you chose for your treatment should ensure your safety through strict pre-treatment screening, mask-wearing requirements, updated sanitation protocols, and scheduling protocols that ensure compliance with social distancing guidelines.

As our world moves forward from the COVID-19 pandemic there are going to be many people who have experienced respiratory illness as well as general deconditioning due to the stayhome orders. I want you to know that physical therapists are here to help you get back to a healthy life.

Aaron Holly, MSPT, MTC, is the vice president of professional development and the Okemos clinic director at Orthopaedic Rehab Specialists. Reach him at (517) 220-4540.